In early summer in Yangzhou, the city is shrouded in mist and willows, with painted bridges and emerald curtains in the wind.

When the imperial carriage arrived, the sun was setting, and the entire city was bathed in a golden glow.

The imperial palace is located on the shore of Slender West Lake and was a place where Emperor Kangxi often stayed during his southern tours.

Lin Yun led Hongyao and Zhaohua by the hand as they stepped off the carriage, where they were greeted by an exquisite garden landscape.

Pavilions and towers are nestled among lush trees, and the lake in the distance ripples with light.

"Your Majesty, be careful on the steps." Xia He helped Lin Yun step onto the white marble steps, while Chunlan held the drowsy Zhaohua in her arms.

Full of energy, Hongyao broke free from his wet nurse's hand and skipped ahead, his little boots making a crisp sound on the bluestone slabs.

Looking at the familiar scenery of Jiangnan before her, Lin Yun vaguely recalled the Ge Garden in Yangzhou that she had seen during her travels in her previous life.

Just as they were lost in thought, they suddenly heard Hongyao exclaim, "Fish! Big fish!" It turned out that there were dozens of koi carp swimming leisurely in the pond in the center of the palace.

"Slow down!" Lin Yun hurriedly chased after him, only to see Hong Yao already leaning over the railing, half of his body hanging out. Her heart skipped a beat in fright.

Fortunately, a nearby eunuch reacted quickly and caught the little prince.

After settling the two children, Lin Yun dressed up alone in her bedroom.

The woman in the bronze mirror had exquisite features, and her pale purple palace dress made her skin appear even whiter than snow.

She gently stroked the golden phoenix hairpin in her hair, when she suddenly heard the whispers of the palace maids outside.

"I heard that Salt Commissioner Lin will also be attending the welcoming banquet tonight."

"Is that the recently deceased scholar, Lord Lin, who recently passed away? I heard his wife was the daughter of the Jia family in Jinling... It's a pity she died young..."

The comb in Lin Yun's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

The Jia family? The third-ranking scholar, Lord Lin? Isn't that Lin Daiyu's father from *Dream of the Red Chamber*?

Her heart suddenly raced, and an unbelievable thought popped into her head—could it be that she had not only traveled back to the Qing Dynasty, but also entered the world of Dream of the Red Chamber?

"Your Highness?" Chunlan entered upon hearing the voice. Seeing her mistress's unusual expression, she quickly knelt down and picked up the comb. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Lin Yun forced a smile: "It's alright, I'm just a little tired." She paused, then asked casually, "I overheard you talking about the Salt Commissioner, is his surname Lin?"

Chunlan nodded: "It is indeed Lord Lin Ruhai. I heard that his wife, Jia, passed away last year, leaving behind a daughter who is now being raised by her maternal grandparents in Jinling."

Lin Yun's heart skipped a beat. The timelines matched so perfectly!

Jia Min passed away, and Daiyu was taken to the Jia family mansion... Everything was exactly as described in the book. She suddenly remembered that her name before she transmigrated was Lin Wanqing. Could it be fate?

As night fell, the main hall of the imperial palace was brightly lit.

Emperor Yongzheng sat at the head of the table and received officials of all ranks in Yangzhou.

As the Imperial Noble Consort, Lin Yun also sat at a table behind the beaded curtain with the ladies who had come with the officials.

"Zhao Wenyuan, Prefect of Yangzhou, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Salt Inspector Lin Ruhai pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this name, Lin Yun couldn't help but look through the beaded curtain.

A man of about forty years old bowed respectfully. He had a thin face and a scholarly air about him, but he couldn't hide his weariness.

When he looked up, his gaze inadvertently swept across the beaded curtain, and suddenly he was startled, a look of disbelief flashing in his eyes.

Lin Yun's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Lord Lin's expression suggested some secret she didn't know?

During the banquet, glasses clinked and toasts were exchanged. Lin Ruhai hesitated several times, his gaze frequently drifting towards the beaded curtain.

Emperor Yongzheng was extremely perceptive and quickly noticed something amiss. He turned to Su Peisheng and whispered a few words to him.

Before long, Lin Ruhai was led to a side hall.

"Minister Lin, you kept glancing at the beaded curtain just now. Is there something you need to report?" Yongzheng's tone was calm, yet it carried an undercurrent of authority.

Lin Ruhai knelt on the ground, his voice trembling slightly: "This humble subject has been offended, truly because... because Your Majesty's appearance is so strikingly similar to my deceased wife when she was young, I was momentarily distracted, and deserve to die!"

Emperor Yongzheng raised an eyebrow, seemingly lost in thought.

He had already heard that Lin Ruhai had recently lost his wife, so he didn't suspect anything: "Please rise, my dear minister. It's not surprising that people can resemble each other."

However, thinking of Xie Yu's previous incident, he felt slightly uneasy.

At this moment, the beaded curtain swayed slightly, and Lin Yun slowly stepped out.

She bowed to Emperor Yongzheng and said softly, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Lady Lin, the wife of Lord Lin, is surnamed Jia. Is she a daughter of the Jia family of Jinling?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai was even more surprised: "How did Your Highness know?"

Lin Yun smiled faintly: "I heard my elders mention it when I was young."

She paused, then continued, "Lord Lin, please accept my condolences. I wonder how your daughter is doing now..."

"My daughter, Daiyu, is currently being raised by her maternal grandparents in Jinling," Lin Ruhai said, his expression somber. "My wife's greatest worry before she passed away was this child."

Upon hearing the name "Daiyu," Lin Yun finally became certain that she was indeed in the world of Dream of the Red Chamber.

She was filled with mixed feelings, including the novelty of meeting the characters in the book and a complex sense of intertwined fates.

"Lord Lin," she suddenly spoke, her voice soft yet firm, "I have a favor to ask. After the southern tour, could your daughter stay at the palace for a while? I felt a sense of familiarity upon first meeting you, Lord Lin, and I believe you and your daughter will get along well."

Lin Ruhai looked up in surprise and met Lin Yun's gentle gaze.

In that instant, he seemed to see the shadow of his deceased wife, Jia Min, and his eyes involuntarily welled up with tears: "Your Majesty's kindness is overwhelming... I am deeply flattered!"

Although Yongzheng was somewhat surprised, seeing Lin Yun's earnest expression, he nodded in agreement: "In that case, when we make our southern tour, we will bring Lin Qing's daughter to stay in the palace temporarily."

In the stillness of the night, Lin Yun stood alone on the corridor outside her bedchamber, gazing at the crescent moon in the sky.

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